Season over for Chrebet

[Gunzlingr]

Wayne Chrebet's season is over. Now the question is, what about his career?
The Jets wide receiver, still experiencing headaches from a concussion he suffered 10 days ago, was placed on injured reserve yesterday. Chrebet was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, the malady that ended the careers of several former NFL stars, but the Jets' team doctor said he's cautiously optimistic that Chrebet will return next season.

more (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/story/136249p-121213c.html)

[Gunzlingr]

After the season, the Jets will focus on picking up a blue-chip wide receiver to play opposite Santana Moss, perhaps a No. 1 draft pick or a big-ticket free agent like Terrell Owens. For now, they will have to make due with perhaps their thinnest receiving corps since the Rich Kotite era.
With Wayne Chrebet out for the remainder of the season with post-concussion syndrome, the Jets are left with only two accomplished wideouts - Moss and Curtis Conway. The third and fourth receivers, Kevin Swayne and Jonathan Carter, have the same number of receptions this season as newly signed Kevin Lockett.

Zero.

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[Gunzlingr]

There was quiet concern amongst Wayne Chrebet's teammates yesterday as news of his season-ending, post-concussion syndrome spread.

"I feel sorry for him, because I had a concussion in 2000 and was knocked out, so I understand what it's like," Jets' strong safety Sam Garnes said. "It's really hard to come back from that . . . and Wayne had one of the worst ones you can have. When you sign on to play this game you know what to expect. It doesn't make you back off. It's just something you're aware of . . . and you know one day it can be to you."

Garnes said he spoke to Chrebet, but not about concussions. "He didn't seem like he was in a mood to talk; it seemed like he was out of it," Garnes said.

Chad Pennington said he hadn't had a chance to talk to Chrebet, but added, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Wayne. The most important thing for Wayne Chrebet to concentrate on is Wayne Chrebet and his family, not worry about the Jets. When you lose a competitor like Wayne, it's a shock and you're in disbelief, but he needs to concentrate on his health and recovery."

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[Gunzlingr]

Al Toon suffered at least nine concussions in eight seasons with the Jets, but he never thought his career was in jeopardy until the last one. It happened on Nov. 8, 1992, on a tackle by Broncos linebacker Michael Brooks.
"The thing that scared me was, after watching a tape of the play, he hardly touched me," Toon recalled yesterday from his home in Middleton, Wisc. "It wasn't a violent shot. That scared me."

Nineteen days later, Toon, still in the throes of post-concussion syndrome, retired at the age of 29.



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[Gunzlingr]

Nearly 10 years have passed, but former Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears running back Merril Hoge is still incredulous over the medical care, or lack thereof, he received when he needed it most.

Six days after suffering what Hoge described as a "severe" concussion, the Bears' team doctors cleared him to play. Four weeks later, Hoge sustained a second concussion -- the third of his career -- and says he flat-lined in the locker room for 15 seconds. Hoge also said he lost his vital signs and stopped breathing.

Hoge spent two days in intensive care and it took 18 months before he felt any sense of normalcy. He sued the Bears for improperly clearing him to play and was awarded $1.55 million in 2000.

"A concussion is trauma to the brain and the healing process is enormously slow," Hoge said yesterday from his home in Fort Thomas, Ky. "When symptoms linger and you become slow to respond, it's an accumulative effect. I was playing before I really recovered."

That is exactly what Jets team doctor Elliot Pellman doesn't want Wayne Chrebet to do and that's why the club put the wide receiver on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his season.

more (http://www.nj.com/jets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1068790337324820.xml)